Russell fault: early strike-slip fault of California Coast Ranges

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 UTC 1989 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5535768

Yeats, R S; Calhoun, J A; Nevins, B B; Schwing, H F; Spitz, H M ^[1]

---

1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (USA)

The subsurface Russell fault is a controlling structure for oil fields in the Cuyama basin in the southern Salinian block of coastal California. Movement on the Russell fault began at about 23 Ma following deposition of the Oligocene Simmler Formation in extensional basins bounded on the south by normal-fault ancestors of the La Panza and Ozena reverse faults. Right-lateral strike slip on the Russell fault began with deposition of the Soda Lake Shale Member of the Vaqueros Formation. The Soda Lake Shale Member and Painted Rock Sandstone Member of the Vaqueros Formation were deposited in west-trending, right-stepping troughs, while most of the right slip on the Russell fault accumulated 23-19 Ma. Pre-Vaqueros strata are offset 26-29 km, but Vaqueros isopachs are offset only 3.7 km. The Whiterock Bluff Shale Member of the Monterey Formation is dated as 16.5-14 Ma; the facies boundary between the Whiterock Bluff Shale Member and the Branch Canyon Sandstone is offset 3-3.4 km. Coeval subsidiary faults near the Russell fault in Miocene strata at least as young as 11 Ma also support distributed right-lateral shear. 9 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5535768
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 73:9; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CALIFORNIA
CENOZOIC ERA
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA